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She ended the song with a thrill, ending with an open-ended chord that floated up to the ceiling until it dissipated.
An awed silence settled over the room for a while until her father broke the silence. “Well, I hope you will give Lord Grant and me some of the credit. We are, after all, the ones who nudged you into this marriage.”
They all shared a laugh, and Ellen stood up from the piano bench. “And for that, I will be eternally grateful, Papa,” she said, walking over to kiss him on the cheek. Simon reached out his hand and shook her father’s hand.
“As will I, sir,” he said.
Throughout the rest of that charmed night, she played songs and Christmas hymns, sharing the joy of the season. All that was wrong had been made right. All that had been broken was restored, making it a Christmas she would remember and cherish for the rest of her life.
Epilogue
January 6th, Twelfth Night
Two weeks later, Simon stood with Ellen in the foyer, greeting their guests as they filed through the door for their Twelfth Night celebration. Since it was the last night of the month-long celebrations for Christmas, his mother had wanted to make it memorable, and she had outdone herself with the preparations.
The decorations had been saved over from Christmas Day, and even more had been added, with touches of gold and crystal making the house come to life with sparkles. But nothing could sparkle more than his wife, standing at his side dressed in a deep crimson red silk. She wore the family diamonds around her neck, graciously given to her by his mother.
It was a sign that Ellen was well and truly a part of the family, and she wore them with as much grace and humility as would have made the Grant women that had gone before her proud.
Simon smiled, remembering how she had fretted over her hair earlier that evening, wanting to look perfect before they went down to start greeting their guests. She had moved all of her things back into his bedroom, never to leave his side again. They were well and truly a married couple now, and nothing would ever separate them again.
“You are glowing, my love. Is there a secret that the other ladies are not aware of?” Simon whispered, leaving in close so that only she could hear. Of course, it would have taken someone a great deal of effort to eavesdrop on them, as the crowded foyer was permeated by the din of laughter and happy chatter as their guests shed their heavy fur coats and hats and went into the ballroom.
“There is no secret. It is only love for you that makes me glow as I do,” she said. “But no one else can take advantage of that secret. I am the only one who is allowed to hold your heart for the rest of eternity.”
He took her hand and lifted it to his lips, kissing it gently. “Rest assured, my dear, there is no danger in anyone else ever holding my affections as you do.”
When all the guests had arrived, he led her into the ballroom, and the dancing commenced. He asked Ellen to dance, but she forewent his invitation. “It is very warm in here. I think I will wait until it is not so crowded,” she said.
“Very well, whatever you wish,” he said. They spent the first part of the evening watching as other couples danced and chatting with their friends. Simon could not help but notice that Everett stayed close to Beatrice throughout the evening and wondered if something might come of the association. He leaned over to Ellen and pointed the couple out.
“What do you think of those two?” he asked with a wry smile. “Shall we help them along as our fathers helped us?”
“It is not up to us to arrange their lives, Simon.”
“No, but a few hints there. A few chance meetings here,” he suggested. “It may just do the trick.”
“I thought that Lord Carlisle was a confirmed bachelor.”
Simon shook his head.
“Not at all. I think he has just been waiting to meet the right woman. And I believe Beatrice would be good for him. She is spirited and intelligent, creative and strong. And Everett would lead her with a gentle and yet firm hand. His steadiness might help to smooth some of her rougher personality traits, and her creativity would help to bring him out of his shell a bit more.”
Ellen seemed to consider her sister and Everett for a moment. “Mayhap you are right. I will have to ask her about it,” she said.
A few seconds later, Simon’s father approached them and asked if Ellen would be willing to go to the parlour and play something for them all on the pianoforte. “I have been telling one of my very good friends, Lord Harrow, about your newly published songbook, and he was very keen to hear some of your pieces.”
Ellen initially tried to decline, but Simon urged her to take the opportunity. She glanced up at him, and he knew she was a little embarrassed. He leaned down and kissed her cheek. “There is no need to be nervous, my love. Your pieces are transcendental.”
Ellen rolled her eyes. “Now I know you are being far too complimentary. Is there something you wish to gain from such flattery?” she shot back with a teasing smile.
He laughed and lowered his voice. “Yes, but it is not appropriate to say in front of company.”
She flashed him a warning smile, rolling her eyes again. However, she did not protest further, and he walked with her out of the ballroom, down the hall, and into the parlour. She went to the piano, and by the time she had settled herself at the bench, a good crowd had gathered.
Butterflies swirled in his stomach at the intel he had yet to share with her. She looked up at Simon for reassurance. He gave her a nod of encouragement, and she turned to her sheet music. The first song was one that she had started writing many years ago and had perfected very recently.
He had heard her practising it in the parlour on several occasions, and it was one of his favourites. Ellen closed her eyes as she played, not needing the sheet music, for it was a song that her soul knew well. He watched her, seeming to come to life as her fingers brushed against the keys.
